As U.S. Congress considers extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a debate has emerged over which type of budget baseline should be used to measure the policy's impacts on the federal budget. Tristan Loa and David Wessel explain the importance of baselines in the congressional budget process and what the Senate is considering for the fiscal year 2025 budget resolution.
Supporting low-income families. The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds a range of social services for low-income children and older adults, and its potential elimination in the reconciliation process could negatively impact these vulnerable populations. Wendel Primus and Rasa Siniakovas examine the legislative and budgetary decisions on the SSBG, detailing its history, funding levels, and state usage.
Investing in regional prosperity. Congressional lawmakers have revisited surface transportation programs, which are crucial for the economy but underfunded by current federal programs, to address investment gaps at the local and regional levels. Adie Tomer and Ben Swedberg propose a $10 billion Regional Transportation Block Grant (RTBG) that would modernize federal commitments, reduce administrative costs, and improve project delivery and accountability.
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